Socket or base trolley-poles for electric traction systems.



1,100,680. Patented June 16, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

I ff -AA "T g 7 Q E, INVE/VTOR. @MZL 7 1 COLUMBIA PLANOORAFHco.,wAsH|N0'roN, D. c

E. M. MUNRO.

SOCKET 0R BASE OF TROLLEY POLES FOR ELECTRIC TRACTION SYSTEMS. 4

Arrmcmlon FILED r2317, 1913.

1,100,680, Patented June 16,1914

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPN co.,wAsHlNuToN. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD MAY MUNRO, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE. R. E.T. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SOCKET OR BASE 0F TRO-LLEY-POLES FOR ELECTRIC TRACTION SYSTEMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MAY MUNRo, subject of the King of England,residing at London, in England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in the Sockets or Bases of Trolley-Poles for ElectricTraction Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the sockets or bases of trolley-poles forelectric traction systems and has particular reference to systems inwhich railless vehicles deriving their power from overhead conductorsare employed. In such a system it is important to allow the vehicle tovary its position relatively to the conductors without danger ofdisengaging the contact shoes or other collectors and to prevent undueside strain being set up between the conductor and the collector.According to this invention the position of the rotatable portion of thesocket is controlled by a cam or inclined surface acting in conjunctionwith a friction roller or the like. The cam may be pressed into contactwith the roller either by the weight of the trolley-arm and head or bythe action of a spring.

In one convenient construction the standard or base is provided with afixed sleeve or tubular member provided at its upper end with twofriction rollers mounted in suitable lugs. Upon these rollers rests therotatable head carrying the usual polesocket pivoted to it. The lowerportion of the rotatable head which is in contact with the rollers isformed as a double cam having the two deepest portions of its surface sodisposed relatively to the head that the head is in its highest positionwhen the trolley-arm or pole is parallel with the longitudinal axis ofthe vehicle. These two portions of the cam surface may be flat for asmall length so as to allow of slight rotary motion without the control.coming into operation but when the vehicle turns out and causes thetrolley-arm to lie at more than a slight angle with the car the inclinedportions of the cam are brought into cooperation with the rollers andthe weight of the head and the trolley-arm tends to rotate the socketfurther in the same direction.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure l is a vertical central sectionthrough one construction of a socket or base according to thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 17, 1913.

Patented June 16, 1914.

Serial No. 748,948.

partly in section, taken at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is atransverse section through the roof of a vehicle upon which two sockets,according to this invention, are mounted, and, Figs. L and 5 are plansof two frames or holding members used in the mounting of the sockets asshown in Fig. 3.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings. 7

WVith reference first to Figs. 1 and 2, A is a tubular socket providedat its upper extremity with friction rollers B supported in lugs A. Onthese friction rollers rest inclined or cam surfaces C formed on arotatable head C. This head C is fitted with a tubular stem D whichextends down within the tube or socket A, roller bearings being providedat E and E so that the stem D may rotate and move up and down within thetube A. A spring F, in compression, is placed between a channel orballrace E adjustably secured to thebottom of the stem D and a fixedinternal collar G within the tube A. This spring therefore tends to keepthe cam surfaces C pressed down in contact with the friction rollers B.Within the tubular stem D is a spring H acting between a fixed internalcollar H and the lower end of a central rod or tie J The upper extremityof this rod engages with the hooked end of a socket K which receives thelower end of the trolley-arm K. This rod J, spring H and socket K are ofthe usual construction, the function of the spring H being to keep theupper extremity of the trolley-arm K raised so that the collector isbrought into cont-act with the overhead conductor. Attached to therotatable head C is a light cover or petticoat L which serves to protectthe cam surfaces and. friction rollers from the weather.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the deepest portions of the cam surfaces C areresting upon the friction rollers B, this being the normal position whenthe axis of the trolleyarm K lies parallel with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, as when the vehicle is running directly beneath theoverhead conductor. Should the vehicle turn out from this position thehead C is rotated and the inclined cam surfaces 0 are brought intoengagement with the friction rollers and tend to rotate the head G andthe trolley-arm K still farther in the direction in which they havemoved. That is to say, the

head, owing to the action of the cam surfaces, is turned in such adirection as to lessen or prevent side strain between the overheadconductor and the collector.

Fig. 3 illustrates. diagrammatically one method of mounting two sockets,according to this invention, on the roof of an electrically propelledvehicle. A spectacle frame or casting, part of which is shown separatelyin Fig. 4L, is formed with two flanged rings M which receive the tubesA. This spectacle frame extends across the vehicle beneath the rooftimbers N and is supported by vertical channel irons P. Near the bottomof the tubes A a bodice R is provided, bolted or- The improvedconstruction of trolleysocket or base is simple and not likely to getout of order and further it can be made very low so that it occupieslittle space on the roof of the vehicle. Another advantage is that verylittle lateral space is required.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. A socket or base for the trolley-pole of an electrically propelledvehicle comprising a rotatable head, a relatively stationary supportingmember, and inclined or cam surfaces acting to control the motion of therotatable head in the manner described to counteract lateral pressure onthe conduc- .tor when the vehicle is not running directly beneath theconductor.

2. A socket or base for the trolley-pole of an electrically propelledvehicle comprising a rotatable head having inclined or cam surfaces, astationary supporting member and friction rollers mounted thereon tocooperate with the cam surfaces to control the motion of the head in themanner described.

3. A base for the trolley-pole of an electrically propelled vehiclecomprising a tubular socket, friction rollers mounted on the upper partof such socket, a head rotatable relatively to the socket and providedwith inclined or cam surfaces cooperating with the friction rollers, anda spring acting to keep the cam surfaces in contact with the frictionrollers.

4. A trolley pole support for an electrically propelled vehicle, aspectacle frame, and two rotatable sockets or bases for trolley-poleseach socket or base being provided with inclined or cam surfaces andfriction rollers as and for the purpose described.

- 5. A base for the trolley-pole of an electrically propelled vehiclecomprising a tubular socket, friction rollers mounted on the upper partof such socket, a head co-axial with said socket and rotatablerelatively thereto, cam surfaces formed on the underside of such headand disposed so as to rest upon the friction rollers and a tubular stemattached to the rotatable head and extending down within the tubularsocket.

6. A base for the trolley-pole of an electrically propelled vehicle,comprising a tubular socket, friction rollers mounted on the upper partof such socket, a head co-axial with said socket and rotatablerelatively thereto, cam surfaces formed on the underside of such headand disposed so as to rest upon the friction rollers, a tubular stemattached to the rotatable head and extending down within the tubularsocket and a spring acting between the tubular stem and the tubularsocket to keep the cam surfaces in operative connection with thefriction rollers.

7. A base for the trolley-pole of an electrically propelled. vehicle,comprisinga tubular socket, friction rollers mounted on the upper partof such socket, a head co-axial with said socket and rotatablerelatively thereto, cam surfaces formed on the underside of such headand disposed so as to rest upon the friction rollers, a tubular stemattached to the rotatable head and extending down within the tubularsocket, a spring acting between the tubular stem and the tubular socketto keep the cam surfaces in operative connection with the frictionrollers, a pole-socket pivotally mounted on the rotatable head, a rodattached to the inner end of the pole-socket and extending down withinthe tubular stem, a fixed collar within the tubular stem and a springacting between the fixed collar and the lower extremity of the rod andtending to keep the outer end of the pole-socket raised.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD MAY MUNRO.

Witnesses VVILLIAM REEVES, CIIAnLEs E. TAYLER.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

